Self

Chapter 26

Yale stepped in and took a quick look around. There was no sign of Yara, but Shane looked clear–headed,

“Why are you here?” Shane’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought your were hanging out with your girlfriend.”

“Just dropped her off at the dorm.” His voice was calm as he found a

seat.

Shane did not pry, just flashed a grin. “I just cracked open a bottle of Burgundy. Do you want a glass?”

He filled a glass halfway and handed it to Yale.

Yale accepted it and took a small sip. “Pretty good.”

After a brief pause, he asked, “You mentioned Yara was here earlier? Where is she now?”

“You didn’t come just to see her, did you?” Shane teased, swirling his glass with a sly smile.

Yale chuckled dryly, his face growing a touch more serious. “Just felt like grabbing a drink and thought I’d ask. Is that a problem?”

Shane just shrugged. “I ran into her in the hallway. She came for a drink, and she’s probably headed back by now, huh?”

Yale did not respond, but he seemed to relax a bit more.

Yeah, Yara did not fit in with that scene.

He set his glass down and stood up. “I have work tomorrow, so I should head out. Charge this on my card.”

Shane watched him go, his gaze growing more intense.

After a moment, he let out a quiet sigh. “Sorry, man.”

They had not been in the VIP room for an hour before Rainie passed out from half a bottle.

Yara had a few drinks herself and could not drive, so she called a ride

for Rainie to her place and then caught a cab back home.

The rain started coming down hard halfway home, and the cab would only go as far as the alley entrance.

Without an umbrella and the rain showing no mercy, Yara decided to

make a dash for it.

“Yara!”

A crisp and clear voice cut through the drizzle, halting her mid–step. Twisting around, she saw Wade emerging from the mist, umbrella in hand.

“Planning to sprint home in this downpour?”

He had ditched the usual button–up for something more laid–back, and the change chipped away at his usual stern vibe.

Yara gave a timid nod. That was exactly her plan.

“Here, take this.” He thrust the umbrella at her, leaving no room for

protest.

Yara’s brow creased with concern. “But what about you?”

She almost wished to suggest they could huddle together beneath. one umbrella.

“I’ll borrow one from the shop.” Without another word, he dashed to the restaurant across the way and returned with a collapsible umbrella.

Yara’s eyes widened. That shop owner was notoriously cranky and barely civil to his customers. How did Wade manage to borrow from

him?

3/3

“He had some electrical trouble a while back; I fixed it when I was passing by,” Wade explained briefly. Then, as the rain eased, he popped the umbrella open and stepped back into the drizzle.

Yara watched his retreating figure for a heartbeat or two before hurrying after him.

The old neighborhood’s street lights were dim at best, and the rain only made the gloom deeper.

Suddenly, lightning streaked across the sky, and the wind whipped the trees into a frenzy. Yara’s grip on the umbrella tightened, and she

quickened her pace.

They moved through the rain–soaked alley, Wade always a few steps ahead, keeping the distance between them constant–not too far, but not too close.

Did he deliberately slow down because he knew she was frightened? Then, he glanced back. “Something wrong?”

She hesitated. “No, I’m fine.”

“Keeping up okay?”

“Yeah.”

The rain was relentless. By the time Yara got home, her pants were soaked through. She peeled the drenched layers, jumped into a steamy shower, slipped into her pajamas, and, just to be safe, made a vitamin mix drink.

As she sipped the drink, Yara could not help but picture Wade with the umbrella–tall and broad–shouldered, and somehow, just looking at him made everything feel more solid